The Snake in 2014: Your Chinese Horoscope. Neil Somerville

10 February 1994 to 30 January 1995

      Pig 31 January 1995 to 18 February 1996

      Rat 19 February 1996 to 6 February 1997

      Ox 7 February 1997 to 27 January 1998

      Tiger 28 January 1998 to 15 February 1999

      Rabbit 16 February 1999 to 4 February 2000

      Dragon 5 February 2000 to 23 January 2001

      Snake 24 January 2001 to 11 February 2002

      Horse 12 February 2002 to 31 January 2003

      Goat 1 February 2003 to 21 January 2004

      Monkey 22 January 2004 to 8 February 2005

      Rooster 9 February 2005 to 28 January 2006

      Dog 29 January 2006 to 17 February 2007

      Pig 18 February 2007 to 6 February 2008

      Rat 7 February 2008 to 25 January 2009

      Ox 26 January 2009 to 13 February 2010

      Tiger 14 February 2010 to 2 February 2011

      Rabbit 3 February 2011 to 22 January 2012

      Dragon 23 January 2012 to 9 February 2013

      Snake 10 February 2013 to 30 January 2014

      Horse 31 January 2014 to 18 February 2015

      Note

      The names of the signs in the Chinese zodiac occasionally differ, although the characteristics of the signs remain the same. In some books the Ox is referred to as the Buffalo or Bull, the Rabbit as the Hare or Cat, the Goat as the Sheep and the Pig as the Boar.

      For the sake of convenience, the male gender is used throughout this book. Unless otherwise stated, the characteristics of the signs apply to both sexes.

Welcome to the Year of the Horse

      Whether pulling a cart, working on a farm, being ridden for pleasure or sport or displaying the graceful skills of dressage, the horse is a good worker. And has style. Many of these qualities will be evident during the Year of the Horse.

      The Horse enjoys activity and a prominent feature of the Horse year is that it favours action. Whether on the world stage or in the arts, media, technology, medicine or other spheres, there will be significant developments this year and the emphasis will be on innovation and pushing the boundaries.

      Internationally, too, the focus will be on moving situations forward and some landmark agreements will be forged which will bring hope to troubled regions. Previous Horse years have seen the formal reunification of East and West Germany following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the release of Nelson Mandela, which led to dramatic change in South Africa, and, in 1918, the ending of the First World War. In 2014 again, important conflict resolutions can lift the shadow of oppression from certain regions. Middle Eastern and African countries will, in particular, continue to experience great change during the year.

      Although the accent will be on progress, there will, though, inevitably be flashpoints and sudden acts of aggression, as in the Horse year of 1990, when Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait, but generally the troubles will be of short duration and the reaction from international communities swift.

      Another area which will continue to exercise the minds of those in authority will be the world economy. After the austerity and fiscal measures imposed by some governments, 2014 will bring improvement. The green shoots of recovery already seen in some economies will grow stronger during the year, with many governments taking greater measures to stimulate growth and reduce unemployment. With the Horse year favouring initiative, several dynamic approaches will be put forward. Quite a few sectors will see steady growth, but industries which are likely to fare especially well are transport, technology, fashion and those connected with the use and manufacture of renewable energy. Also, while economic considerations will be paramount, attention will again focus on environmental concerns, particularly on reducing pollution in heavily industrialized areas.

      This Horse year will also see lively debate in quite a few countries as governmental and constitutional issues are discussed and new ideas put forward. In the UK in particular, great interest will be focused on the Scottish referendum and the constitutional implications. Other countries, too, will see significant issues debated which could affect national identity and ways of governance.

      Horse years have energy and passion and focus the mind. They have their lighter sides too, including great successes on stage and screen and in the music industry. This year again some influential new figures could emerge on the music scene and new television series and film releases attract great followings. Star Trek and the American reality series The Osbournes both started in Horse years, and Spider-Man and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers were especially successful in 2002. Interestingly, it was a Horse year, 1894, when Louis Lumière invented the cinematograph, and another Horse year when Sony made the first Walkman, a device which was to transform the listening habits of so many. The entertainment industry is set to have another pioneering year in 2014.

      The fashion industry too will enjoy a revival, with new trends and styles quickly coming to prominence. A more elegant look could well be a feature.

      The energy of horses will also be seen in sport. The 2014 Winter Olympics and then the World Cup in Brazil will be colourful and exciting spectacles and there will be historic moments as new sporting milestones are achieved. It was 60 years ago, in a previous Horse year, that Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile, a record that made sporting history.

      As with all years, there will be bleaker moments too. Natural forces and the vagaries of world weather patterns will bring tragedy. There will also be concern about world resources, including the difficulties of meeting ever-growing demands and compensating for crop failures. But while there will inevitably be some problems, the emphasis will be on moving forward and the year will favour growth.